Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-22
CITY AND DISTRICT.
What the Nation should Do for Art.


To the Editor Of the EVENING STAR.
am glad to see that Mr.. Beryh's sentiments In
reference 20 building n national palace Of art at
washington has met with your favorable notice.
Such a building. with It's collection OF pictures
and sculpture, would have most healthy infiu-
ence upon our people, and more directly upon the
artists themselves.
Aside from its attraction TO the great public 1t
would bring students TO our city from all parts OF
our growing country, from Mexico, South America
and Canada, well. 1t would stimulate the
growth of talent and the development OF taste
among all who visited its great interior. 1t would
De blessing 10 those OF our students who cannot
afford an education in Europe aud save those who
go many years OF useless study there, that could
be under different circumstances so advan-
tageouSly prosecuted here. All artists are more
or less under the impression that the very name
OF painter is a misnOmer unless he has lived on
the other side OF the Atlantic number OF years.
Since II takes long time TO overcome the a, D. C,
Of the profession let them defer their visit until
they are better able 10 comprehend the work OF
sold masters and utilize the material TO be had
there We need above ali things the aid and en-
enlargement which such a great art collection
would give Us
What TO art would Rome be without her vatican,
or Florence without her Ufizi, or Pitd palace,
France, without Louvre orany country without
temple dedicated TO aTt.-her own and that OF the
world? have often seen in Germany and France
large classes of children With their teachers visit
Ing these places, and thus, early in their young
lives acquiring taste for the beautllui IN IOrin
and color Its effect is apparent wherever we
turn IL is noticed not only in the palaces OF the
rfch,-wth their costly collections Oh paintings anu
sculptures tapestries and rare cuTlOs from every
cine-but also in the homes OF the labOrer Is this
taste this love OF the beautiful exempl1fed In the
growing planLs at the dOOrWayS and budding
bowers on the widow sillS. They are all crltlcs;-
ard often when artist is at work IN the streets
ON a bit OF old architecture, one OF these coming
up, Will venture criticism 50 just and so true as
10 astOund you and make one wonder where tniS
knowledge had its origin. One cannot but make
comparisons with his own country; and sad is his
conclusion " his home is in the United States
hp Italia
the facts concerning their art and artists. This
splendid work was begun about the 18th century
They overhauled old archives for manuscripts or
letters,-histOr1ans devoting many OF them In the
different proyiBces) their lives TO labOrOuS inve5-
tigaiion In order to collect all that was aUthen-
tic and interesting concerning their celebrities
Raphael, Titan, Corregi0 and the immortal An
gelo could never be forgotten whilst canvas
lived 10 show their tranScendant genius. But OF
these alone they did not write. Humber names
recalled from their pale ODScurity, and to-day
there are volumes showing the history or art In
Haly.
other countries have followed in ItalyS footsteps
and have erected wonders in architecture in which
to safely guard their treasures OF the past and
present.
Our country is a new one, 1t is true, but old
enough 10 have had a Stuart, a SuIly, Rinebart,
q Powers and many others that could be men
tioned,-exampleS OF whose works would adorn the
galleries OF any country.
Many OF the works OF these men, might say
most OF them, are Wondering In dark and imprOp-
srly ventilated rOOms,-when their owners would
In most cases gladly put them in the hands OF the
ion No country can show better beginning
than ours; and must Ii stop here? Art is at best
aelicaIe plant and unless it receives the proper at
teDtlOn be the soil ever so good, Will not thrive.
France has bought pictures from our artists in
recent years Frank BOggS, Henry MOSier and
others, whose names / cannot recall, have been
hOnoned In this way, and numbers OF medals OF the
rst class have been a9 aried others. The Bavarian
government has teacher In one OF the art schools
OF Munich, an American. So We cannot aliege lack
OF talent on the part OF our men as an excuse for
ignoring this important matter. American artists
exhibit In all the exhibitions of the world and are
rapidly coming TO the front; and think you not
that these men would be glad,-wOuld hail with
greatest Joy,-the opening OF such a building
Mr.. Bergh has suggested? They would then
hive with the knowledge of the fact that II
they attained TO the proper degree OF excellence
their pictures and names would go down to pos
tefity, instead OF being q ball for the auction
rooms and picture dealers, to be tossed to and fro
best collections OF the country are sold from time
TO tine. In 1886 no less than two and possibly
more went under the hammer. Prom the Seney
and Morgan sales alone dozen or more canvaSeS
now lost 10 the government, could and should
have been secured at any price. The pictures Of
ShNO Aler artists are not now to be had. and in q
uStle while those Of more recent date so desirable
and 50 necessary 70 . good collection, viii have
fated likewise.
And now, Mr.. Editor, since you are interested,
carry this glorious work on to completion The
World bu1lt to herself a monument In the PEDESTAL
OF Liberty and THE STAR, already brilliant in
the galaxy Of Newspaper lights would have mon
HmeM more beautiful Stfl-a chaSte, white col
Unn Of gratitude deep rooted in the hearts OF all
peOple then and thrOUg bout All the ages to come.
1DnGy Il BN. G. B. MATTHEWS.